CAUSES OF THE WAR - AMERICANS SETTLE TEXAS - THE TEXAS REVOLUTION - DAVID CROCKETT - INDEPENDENCE OF TEXAS - ANNEXED TO THE UNITED STATES - WAR DECLARED - HOW ARKANSAS ANSWERED THE CALL - ROSTER, MOUNTED VOLUNTEERS - AT BUENA VISTA - THE BATTALION ROSTER - CAPTAIN ENYART'S COMPANY - CAPTAIN MEARS' COMPANY - CAPTAIN WOODS' COMPANY  - TREATY OF GUADALLUPE HILDALGO.

pg. 629 -
     The greater part of what is now the State of Texas was once included in the Province of Louisiana.  In 1819 Spain ceded Florida to the United States and received in return all that party of the Louisiana Purchase lying within the limits of Texas, which then extended northward to the forty-second parallel.  Prior to 1819 no real effort had been made to found settlements in Texas, the territory being left unpeopled to act as a barrier between the United States and the Spanish settlements in Mexico.  When Mexico has achieved her independence in 1821, the new government adopted the policy of developing the district so long neglected.  To this end a large tract of land was granted to Moses Austin, of Connecticut, on condition that he would establish thereon a colony of three hundred American families.  Moses Austin died soon afterward, but the grant was confirmed to his son, Stephen Austin, who was given the privilege of increasing the number of families to five hundred.  Under this arrangement the nucleus of American settlement was planted in Texas during the next two years.
     On Oct. 4, 1824, the people of Mexico adopted a constitution, under which was formed the Mexican Republic, composed of separate states.  Texas and Coahuila were united as one of those states, the constitution of which was patterned after those of the states of the American Union.  During the next ten years the number of American settlers in Texas greatly increased.  In 1835 a military revolution broke out in the City of Mexico, which ultimately became powerful enough to subvert the federal and state governments and establish Gen. Miguel Barragan as military dictator.  Upon his order the Mexican Congress passed an act - or rather ratified a decree - converting the states into mere departments of the central dictatorship.  Such a policy did not meet with the approbation of the American settlers and the Austin colony soon became a ‘‘thorn in the side’’ of the military dictator.  Under the leadership of Gen. Samuel Houston, of Tennessee, the Americans refused to submit to the decree and in 1835 instituted an armed revolt.

DAVID CROCKETT.

     On Nov. 12, 1835, David Crockett and a small party of Tennesseans arrived in Little Rock on their way to Texas to aid the patriots in their

Pg. 630 -
struggle for independence.  The following graphic account of Crockett's visit is taken from Pope's "Early Days in Arkansas."
     "When it was known that the noted Tennesseean was in town a committee waited upon him to tender him a complimentary dinner.  When the committee waited upon him to tender him a complimentary dinner.  When the committee of which Col. Robertson Childers was chairman, reached the hotel, they found a number of strangers sitting on the porch, and on inquiring for Colonel Crockett, were informed that he was in the back yard slaughtering a deer, which he had killed some five miles out of town.  There they found the future hero of the 'Alamo' engaged in his bloody task.  Upon being addressed by Colonel Childers, Crockett turned and as he faced the speaker, exclaimed: 'Robertson Childers, as I'm alive,' recognizing an old Tennessee acquaintance.  Referring to the deer he was engaged in skinning, he remarked:  'I made him turn ends at two hundred yards.'  Old hunters will appreciate this turning of ends.
     "The Rifle Club of Philadelphia had recently presented Colonel Crockett with a magnificent rifle of the most approved pattern, the stock and barrel of which were richly inlaid with silver.  This relic is still in the possession of his grandson, Col. Bob Crockett, of Arkansas County; also the old-fashioed time-piece, with its buckskin guard intact (as it was taken from its owner's body after the fall of the Alamo).  The rifle with which he had made the deer 'turn ends at two hundred yards' was a long, old-fashioned deer rifle, with flint lock, and which he tenderly referred to as 'Old Bet.'
     "Colonel Crockett declined the dinner, stating that he and some of his neighbors were on their way to Texas to assist the people of that Province to gain their independence, and that they were anxious to reach the scene of conflict.  He remarked at the same time that he hoped there were no deputy marshals present, having in mind, doubtless, President Jackson's order of neutrality.  He was assured that he might freely express his sentiments on that question, as the people of Arkansas were in deep sympathy with the Texans in the present struggle.
     "While declining the public dinner, Colonel Crockett informed the committee that he would be pleased to address the citizens for a short time that evening.  An impromptu banquet was hurriedly gotten up at the City Hotel on Elm Street, kept by Charles L. Jeffries.
     "I was very agreeably surprised in Colonel Crockett, both as to his manners and personal appearance.  I had always been of the impression that the clown was one of his leading characteristics.  Hs manner was dignified and gentlemanly, and, while he showed some lack of a thorough education, he displayed a wide range of information upon the leading topics of the day.  While his speech abounded in flashes of wit and humor, it never descended to the clownish or vulgar."
     Judge Pope's description of the rifle presented to Crockett by the young men of Philadelphia is not quite complete.  The stock was inlaid with silver, while on the upper surface of the barrel, in letters of gold, was Crockett’s famous motto: ‘‘Be sure you are right, then go ahead.’’  This rifle descended to John W. Crockett, a son of Col. Robert Crockett, by whom it was placed in the custody of the Arkansas History Commission.  The morning after the impromptu banquet, the little party, well mounted, took its departure for Texas.

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INDEPENDENCE

     On March 2, 1836, the revolutionists issued and promulgated a declaration of independence, to the effect that "all political connection with Mexico is forever ended and the people of Texas do now constitute a free, sovereign and independent republic.
     Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who had succeeded Barragan as dictator, was then marching with an armed force against the Texans.  Four days after the adoption of the declaration of independence occurred the historic massacre of the Alamo.  This dastardly deed was avenged on April 21, 1836, by the battle of San Jacinto, in which the Mexicans were ingloriously defeated by the Texans under General Houston.  Santa Anna and several of his leading officers were captured.  The following month the dictator, while still a prisoner, entered into a treaty acknowledging the independence of Texas, with the Rio Grande as the western boundary.  In September, 1836, the Constitution of Texas was ratified by the people and General Houston was elected president.

ANNEXED TO THE UNITED STATES.

     Previous to the recognition of the Republic of Texas by the Mexican authorities, the United States had made repeated offers to purchase the territory but they all had been rejected.  After the establishment of the republic it was not long until President Houston and other Americans sought annexation to the United States, claiming that more than one hundred thousand emigrants from the  States had already settled in Texas.  The proposition did not take definite form until 1844.  In the political campaign of that year the democratic party nominated James K. Polk for President and declared in favor of annexation, while the Whigs, with Henry Clay as their candidate, opposed it.
     Polk was elected, and the people having thus expressed themselves in favor of annexation, Congress passed the annexation bill on Mar. 1, 1845.  It was signed by President Tyler, three days before Polk was inaugurated.  The bill provided that certain conditions should be complied with before it became effective.  These conditions were accepted by a vote of the Texans and the republic then became a part of the United States.  It was admitted into the Union as a state on December 29, 1845.

WAR DECLARED

     The action of the United States in annexing Texas and admitting it as a state was displeasing to the Mexican Government, which for ten years had entertained hopes of regaining sovereignty over the territory.  At the time Texas was admitted the military forces of the United States in the Southwest were commanded by Gen. Zachary Taylor, who was ordered to take possession of the country and hold it against Mexican aggression until the boundary question could be adjusted.  Early in the year 1846 the Mexican General Arista began mobilizing a large military force along the Rio Grande, to which stream General Taylor's "Army of Occupation" was ordered to advance.
     After  establishing a depot of supplies at Point Isabel, at the mouth of the

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Rio Grande, Taylor moved up the river and built Fort Brown (now Bronsville) opposite the Mexican Town of Matamoras, where General Arista had his headquarters.  The first clash came on May 8, 1846, when the Mexicans were defeated in the battle of Palo Alto.  Reinforcements coming to General Arista  late in the day, he renewed the fight on the 9th at Resaca de la Palma, where the American arms were again victorious.  The news of these engagements aroused the war spirit throughout the United States, particularly in the Lower Mississippi Valley.  The Whigs forgot the old political differences of opinion regarding annexation and men of all political parties offered their services to put a stop to Mexican aggression.  On May 11, 1846, two days after the battle of Resaca de la Palma, Congress declared in a resolution that "war already exists by act of the Mexican Government."  On the same day an act was passed authorizing the President to accept the services of 50,000 volunteers, and placing at his disposal the sum of $10,000,000 to provide for the national defense.  President Pollk approved the act on May 13, 1846, and called upon the various states and territories for eighty-six and a half regiments - the half regiment to be furnished by the District of Columbia - the men "to serve for a term of twelve months, unless sooner discharged."

HOW ARKANSAS ANSWERED THE CALL

     Arkansas was called upon to furnish one regiment of mounted men for service in Mexico, and one battalion to guard the western frontier of the state.  The latter was made necessary because the regular garrisons in the western forts were ordered to Mexico.  As soon as the requisition reached Gov. Thomas S. Drew, he issued his proclamation calling upon the able-bodied men of the state to enlist for such service and to rendezvous at Washington, the county seat of Hempstead County.  The manner in which the call was answered is thus described in Governor Drew's message to the Legislature on Nov. 3, 1846:
     "Without any means in the treasury, or credit on the part of the state, to provide for the maintenance of troops, our citizens responded to the call with an alacrity highly creditable to their patriotism and valor; and such was their ardor for the service, that more than the quota of the requisition were speedily enrolled and ready for the expedition.  They never paused to inquire as to their indemnity for loss of time, the expenditure of money, or the probable chance of failure to be received into the service.  One company marched 250 miles to the place of rendezvous, and returned home, dependent upon their own means and the hospitality of the people for their subsistence.  Instances like these, occurring as they have in most states as well as ours, must be gratifying to the patriot, and give a flattering earnest of the answer the country might expect when she calls upon her citizen-soldiery.  They afford also the best evidence of our moral and physical power as a nation, and the individual courage and devotion to country, for which our population has ever been distinguished.  It is a spectacle upon which the enslaved millions of the old world must look with wonder, and can not fail to awaken their attention to the progress of that great experiment of a 'government by the people,' which our example furnishes to mankind."
     Perhaps no other state in the Union had as great an incentive for entering

picture of MEXICAN WAR FLAG
Made by women of Little Rock for "Capital Guards," later Company E, Arkansas Mounted Volunteers

picture of MEXICAN WAR FLAG
Made by women of Van Buren for "Van Buren Avengers," later Company F, Arkansas Mounted Volunteers.
 

Page 635 -
the war as Arkansas.  Next door to Texas, they were as "brothers of our family."  Many of the Americans from the states east of the Mississippi, on their way to Texas, had passed through Arkansas, and some of them had lived for awhile in the state before continuing their journey.  For years the letters of Stephen Austin, giving an account of the progress of his colony, had appeared in the newspapers and had been read with intense interest by the people of the state.  From 1835 to the declaration of war in 1846, the Arkansas newspapers had constantly published news of the Texas revolution and had openly expressed sympathy with the struggle the Americans there were making for independence.  This expression of sympathy found an echo in the hearts of the Arkansans.  It awakened public sentiment in favor of the revolutionists and stirred up the fighting spirit.  The leaders of the revolution were well known and popular in Arkansas.  When General Houston, after the inhuman massacre at the Alamo, called upon the people of the United States for assistance, a large number of young men from Arkansas had rallied to the standard of the "lone Star Republic."  Then, too, the people of Arkansas were firm in the belief that for ten years or more, as stated in the preceeding chapter, Mexican influence had been actively exerted among the Indians to incite them to "dig up the hatchet" and make war upon the settlements of the western frontier.  The call for volunteers gave them an opportunity to settle old scores, and the prompt response of her gallant sons indicated that the settlement was to be both summary and final.

ROSTER, MOUNTED VOLUNTEERS

     This regiment, designated in some of the reports as the "First Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry," was mustered into the Untied States service by companies between June 29 and July 10, 1846, at Washington, Arkansas.
The FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS during its term of service were as follows: 
Archibald Yell, colonel;
John S. Roane, lieutenant-colonel;
Solon Borland, major;
Gaston Mears and Benjamin F. Ross, adjutants;
H. M. Vandaven, quartermaster;
Edwin H. Roane, surgeon;
John W. Glenn, assistant surgeon;
Josiah Houston, sergeant-major;
John S. Houston, sergeant-major;
Cincinnatus Frousdale, quartermaster sergeant;
James McVicar, quartermaster-sergeant;
Samuel Pinkerton, quartermaster-sergeant;
A. F. Morrison, commissary;
George W. Parker, assistant commissary;
James H. Leroy, paymaster.
     Colonel Yell, resigned his seat in Congress and enlisted as a private in COMPANY B.  Upon the organization of the regiment he was elected commissioned colonel.  He was killed in the battle of Buena Vista, Feb. 23, 1847, and Lieutenant-Colonel Roane was promoted to the vacancy caused by his death.
     COMPANY A was recruited in Pope County.  It was mustered in on July 1, 1846, with James S. Moffett, as captain; H. W. Taylor, first lieutenant; Cincinnatus Frousdale second lieutenant.  Lieutenant Frousdale was appointed quartermaster-sergeant five days later and was mustered out in July, 1847, as first Lieutenant of Company A.  After his promotion the second lieutenants of Company A were Walter F. Scott and Addison Cochran.
     The NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS of the company were: 
William R. Rushing, first sergeant;
Hugh L. Hamilton,
Dennis Rushing and
Levi Mason, sergeants;

Pg. 636 -
Samuel W. Mason,
Robert L. Hamilton,
Jacob L. Shinn and
Madison L. Poplin, corporals
Thomas Logan, buglar;
John W. Aylor, burglar;
N. K. Eubanks, farrier.

PRIVATES:

     COMPANY B was a Pulaski County organization.  It was mustered in on July 6, 1846. 
The COMMISSIONED OFFICERS were
Solon Borland, captain;
Christopher C. Danley, Isaac D. Hamilton and Nathaniel T. Gaines, first lieutenants;
Hiram Carr and Josiah M. Giles, second lieutenants,
Captain Borland was elected major on July 6, 1846, and Lieutenant Danley was promoted to the captaincy.
     In the list of NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS appear the names of
Wiley B. McNabb, first sergeant;
William Turner, Samuel Jeffries, John A. Henry and Jonathan W. Buhaup, sergeants
Henry Dawson, Isaac Ramsey, Alfred B. Peake and Thomas I. Denton, corporals;
James H. Leroy and Christian Diehl, buglers;
Oliver H. P. Bilby, farrier.

PRIVATES:

     Johnson County furnished the greater part of COMPANY C, which was mustered in on June 30, 1846.  During the time the regiment was in the service, the COMMISSIONED OFFICERS of the company were: 
George W. Patrick, captain;
James W. Patrick and John F. Hill, first lieutenants;
William A. McCain, Joseph Stewart and James F. Fagan, second lieutenants.
Lieutenant Patrick resigned in February, 1847, and John F. Hill, a private in the company was

Pg. 637 -
elected as his successor.  At the same time Lieutenant Stewart resigned and James F. Fagan, another private, was elected in his place.  Lieutenant Fagan afterward rose to the rank of major-general in the Confederate army.
     The NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS of Company C were:
John D. Adams, first sergeant;
James Logan, Robert Nesbitt, John G. Perry, William P. Pryor and Hudson I. Shropshire, sergeants;
William N. Adams, Allen Gibson, Job Goldsworthy, John M. Turner and Pleasant Williams, corporals;
Jesse M. Norton and James F. White, buglers;
Robert H. Frost, farrier.

PRIVATES:

     COMPANY D came from Independence County.  When mustered in on July 3, 1846, the COMMISSIONED OFFICERS commissioned officers were:
Andrew R. Porter, captain;
Franklin W. Desha, first lieutenant;
Jesse Searcy and Richard Searcy, second lieutenants;
Captain Porter was killed at the battle of Buena Vista, February 23, 1847, and Lieutenant Desha was elected captain on February 28th.  Robert F. Finley then became first lieutenant.
     NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS -
William H. Bateman, first sergeant;
Zachariah D. Bogard, Micajah Byrd and Simeon Cason, sergeants;
Marcus Chandler, Martin Chrisman, William D. Jones and James Matthews, corporals;
Edward W. Jordan and William C. Garrison, buglers;
James Richmond, farrier.

PRIVATES:

     COMPANY E was recruited in Pulaski County.  It was mustered in on July 2, 1846, with the following COMMISSIONED OFFICERS:
Albert Pike, captain;
Hamilton Reynolds, first lieutenant;

Pg. 638 -
William H. Cousin and John C. Peay, second lieutenants.
     NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS -
John C. Stevenson, first sergeant;
James T. Stevenson, Christopher L. Sullivan and Lambert A. Whitely, sergeants;
William J. Byrd, Henry Crease, William F. Hicks, William H. Toler and Charles W. Wolfe, corporals;
William N. Blanden and Augustus M. Crouch, buglers;
Joseph Schneider, farrier.
Privates:

     COMPANY F was raised in Crawford County and was known as the "Van Buren Avengers.’’  It was mustered in on June 29, 1846, at Van Buren and immediately afterward left for Washington, Arkansas. 
The COMMISSIONED OFFICERS were:
John S. Roane, captain;
John J. Dillard, first lieutenant;
George Foster, first lieutenant;
Alexander Stewart and Leonard Willhoff, second lieutenants.
Captain Roane was mustered in as lieutenant-colonel when the regiment was organized, and Lieutenant Dillard was made Captain.
     The NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS of Company F were as follows:
Benjamin F. Ross (appointed adjutant),
George Y. Latham, John Spratt, William Allouck and James W. B. Davis, sergeants;
John Rudy, John Price, Darwin Stewart and David Thompson, corporals;
Gideon R. Bell and Micajah H. Parker, buglers;
David E. Lewis and Benjamin L. Stewart, farriers.

PRIVATES:

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     COMPANY G came from Sevier County.  It was mustered in on July 1, 1846, with the following
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS: 
Edward Hunter, captain;
James S. Dollarhide and William K. McKean, first lieutenants;
Roger McCown and George C. Steward, second lieutenants.
     The NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS were:
Thomas W. Wright, first sergeant;
Charles G. Lyons, Benton L. Holbrook and Robert G. Brooks, sergeants;
James E. Pettus, William C. Crossland, Thomas Gooch, John W. Hull and Isom G. Davis, corporals;
Joel A. Hull and Washington Derrick, buglers;
Alexander S. Thompson, farrier.

PRIVATES:

     COMPANY H was credited to Franklin County.  It was mustered in on June 30, 1846, at Ozark, Arkansas, with
William C. Preston as captain;
Thomas C. Tomberlin, first lieutenant;
John W. Tomberlin and Redmond B. Sales, second lieutenant,
Lieut. John W. Tomberlin resigned at Aqua, Mexico, and John K. Degroffenreed, a private in the company, was promoted to fill the vacancy.
     NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS -
Alfred C. Harris,
Abraham Guest,
John R. White,
Patterson Carpenter and William A. Throckmorton, sergeants;
Jonathan Russell, James W. Tomberlin, Aaron L. Reed, David D. Hendrix, William Wilmoth, Oliver H. Carpenter, and Frederick R. Dunn, corporals;
Francis A. Hamilton, James Taylor, James P. Rector and Aaron C. Terry, buglers;
Joshua Lilly and Charles Spencer, farriers.

PRIVATES:

Page 640 -

     COMPANY I was recruited in Hot Springs and Saline counties.  It was mustered in at  Washington on July 1, 1846, with the following COMMISSIONED OFFICERS:
William K. Inglish, captain;
Thomas A. Reeder, first lieutenant;
William Calvert and John C. Douglass, second lieutenants.
Lieutenant Douglass was enrolled as a sergeant and was promoted upon the organization of the regiment.
     NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS -
Samuel Pinkerton, Charles L. Petitt, James Henderson, Anderson Cunningham, Burton Neel, James T. Crawford and Richard P. Hammond, sergeants;
Hiram Colbert, Patterson Leech, John Kitterwell, Asa G. Morrow, Simon Stacy and Emanuel P. Berry, corporals;
William Mayfield, Miles and William Henson, buglers;
Calvin Donahoo, farrier.

PRIVATES:

     COMPANY K came from Phillips County and was mustered in on July 10, 1846.  The COMMISSIONED OFFICERS were as follows:
John Preston, Jr.,  captain;
Lewis S. Poe, first lieutenant;
Ezekiell H. Gilbert and Davis Thompson, second lieutenants.
Lieutenant Poe resigned at Presidio, Mexico, Oct. 14, 1846, and on November 1st Vachel S. Dillingham, a private in the company, was elected to fill the vacancy.
     NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS -
John C. Palmer, first sergeant;
Thomas M. Dickson, James D. Latimer, Pierre A. Barker and Israel P. Risinger, sergeants;
James W. Sullivan, Mathew S. finch, Albert B. Odle, James Hamilton, Nicholas P. Rightor, corporals;
Ebenezer G. Harris and Archibald Saunders, buglers;
William M. Snively, farrier.

PRIVATES:

Pg. 641 -

     On May 27, 1847, those who were willing to "reenlist for the war" were discharged at Saltillo, by order of General Wool, and joined the companies organized by Captains Mears and Morris.  Several were discharged on account of sickness or disability.  Companies E and K were mustered out at Monterey, Mexico, June 7, 1847, and the other eight companies were mustered out at Camargo, Mexico, June 20, 1847.  Major Borland and thirty-four men were surprised and captured near Enearacion on Jan. 23, 1847.  They were subsequently exchanged and were mustered out at New Orleans on Oct. 1, 1847.

AT BUENA VISTA

     The Arkansas regiment was attached to the division commanded by General Wool.  While at Monclova, General Wool detached Companies E. and K and organized them into a squadron commanded by Capt. Albert Pike.  To this squadron fell the honor of bringing on the battle of Buena Vista, Feb. 23, 1847, the only action of consequence in which the Arkansas troops were engaged.  Concerning this battle, Judge Pope, in his "Early Days in Arkansas," says:

     "Much adverse criticism has been passed upon the conduct of a large part of the Arkansas regiment at the battle of Buena Vista.  This criticism was applied with equal force to the conduct of some of the Indiana and Kentucky troops at the same battle.  with the exception of Pike's and Preston's companies, the Arkansas regiment had not been thoroughly drilled.  It showed a woeful lack of discipline, and at the battle the companies completely 'lost their heads.'
     "Colonel Yell, seeing the disordered state of the command, hastily gathered about him some thirty or forty of his bravest, dashed impetuously with them into the thicket of the fight, and needlessly, nay, recklessly, threw away his life in an attempt to save the honor of his state and his own name.  Never fell a braver son of an ungrateful state.  After nearly fifty years, no testimonial, erected by the state, tells of his name and fame.  A blood-stained sabre belt, taken from his dead body after the battle, now in the office of the secretary of State of Arkansas, alone remains to testify of this brave Arkansan,"
     Judge Pope's book was published in 1895.  The belt mentioned by him is now in the Museum of the Arkansas History Commission.  The Americans were outnumbered at Buena Vista four to one, yet against this great odds they achieved one of the most signal victories of the war.  Notwithstanding the "adverse criticism," the Arkansas troops did their part to make the history of that battle what it is.  In the presence of a superior force, it is not surprising that

Pg. 642 -
raw, undisciplined troops should show signs of panic at the beginning of the engagement.  But when the smoke of battle cleared away, the Mexicans were in full flight with the Americans in hot pursuit.  Numerous stories of individual bravery during the battle of Buena Vista have been told, one of which will bear repeating here.  Joshua M. Danley, a youth of twenty years was a private in Company B, commanded by his brother, Capt. Christopher C. Danley.  Early in the battle a Mexican lancer charged young Danley and inflicted a slight wound in his arm.  "Josh" grasped the lance near  the head and in the struggle that followed both combatants were unhorsed.  In the fall from his horse the Mexican released his hold upon the lance.  Danley seized it and ran his enemy through the body with his own weapon.  He brought the lance home with him as a trophy.

THE BATTALION ROSTER

     The battalion organized for the protection of the western frontier was mustered into the United States service by companies between July 1 and 21, 1846, at Fort Smith, by James H. Prentiss, assistant adjutant-general of the United States.  It consisted of five companies, with the following field and staff officers: 
William Gray, lieutenant-colonel;
Caleb Davis, lieutenant and adjutant;
Oliver Basham, sergeant-major;
William Eubank, quartermaster-sergeant;
C. C. Casey, principal musician.
These officers were mustered in on July 22, 1846.
     COMPANY A. was recruited in Johnson County by William Gray, who was promoted lieutenant-colonel when the battalion was fully organized.  The company was mustered in on July 1, 1846, with P. B. Collins as captain; R. W. Ward, first lieutenant; T. E. Gillam and J. P. Ring, second lieutenants.
     The NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS were:
H. G. Cloud, H. G. Wilson, James Hardgraves and James T. Gillam, sergeants;
G. W. Arbaugh, William Johnson, John Hays, William T. Hyden and Anderson Hays, corporals;
Thomas Johnson, Reuben g. Gillelalnd and Samuel Marney musicians.

PRIVATES:

Pg. 643 -

     COMPANY B was a Pope County organization.  It was mustered in at Fort Smith on July 1, 1846, with the following COMMISSIONED OFFICERS:
David West, captain;
Stephen Rye, first lieutenant;
Newton W. Brown and Caleb Davis.
Lieutenant Davis was elected battalion adjutant on July 22, 1846.
     NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS:
T. J. Lenton, first sergeant;
Wiley G. Hills, J. S. Ellis, G. W. Williamson, T. B. West, J. E. Duval, sergeants;
Joseph Lewis, G. M. P. Williamson, J. K. Harky, A. A. Dickson and Alexander Wheeler,  corporals;
Joseph Eno and J. A. Vick, buglers;
Willis Benefield, fifer.

PRIVATES:

     COMPANY C was organized at Smithville, Craighead County.  When the organization was complete the company moved to Fort Smith, where it was mustered in on July 6, 1846.  The COMMISSIONED OFFICERS were: 
John S. Ficklin, captain;
A. H. Imboden, first lieutenant;
Henry G. Tucker and James A. Mitchell, second lieutenants.
     NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS:
William H. Hammond, W. F. Alcorn, John Bridges, Thomas Johnson, David L. Richey and H. T. Drake, sergeants;
Hiram Ferguson, Edward Finley, Benjamin F. Bush, Henry P. Tucker and William Vinson, corporals;
G. W. Lingo, Isaac Williams and Henry Johnson, buglers;
William L. Harris and William H. Johnson, farriers.

PRIVATES:

     COMPANY D came from Sebastian County.  It was mustered in on July 18, 1846, with
John H. H. Felch as captain:
Charles M. Hudspeth, first lieutenant; and
Charles S. Rumley, second lieutenants.

Pg. 644 -

     The NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS of the company were:
Edgar W. Cheek, Charles Gray, James Sutton, George Ingalls and Eldridge Byler, sergeants;
Joshua Sutton, I. D. Crouch, Jesse Hood, David Keeler, Obediah C. Hooper and Preston Dobson, corporals;
James E. Gould, Talcott T. Goff, Abraham Morris and Marcus A. Johnson, buglers.

PRIVATES:

     COMPANY E was recruited in Independence County.  The COMMISSIONED OFFICERS of the company when it was mustered in on July 21, 1846, were as follows: 
Charles H. Pelham, captain;
Pleasant Turner, first lieutenant.
John Campbell enrolled as a sergeant, was elected second lieutenant, but did not present himself for muster and on Aug. 29, 1846, J. M. McD. Bateman was elected to the vacancy.
     NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS:
Urban E. Fost, F. H. Driller, James A. Roy, Alexander Adams, sergeants;
David K. Tutt, Elijah James, George W. Pooll, Franklin A. Martin, James Robinson, James Perry, James C. McLain, George W. Campbell, corporals;
George W. Davis, F. F. Watson, George F. Watson, buglers;
G. S. Irons, farrier.
     PRIVATES:

Pg. 645 -

     The batallion served along the western border of Arkansas, watching the Indians just across the border, but was not actively engaged in any fighting.  The companies were mustered out in February and April, 1847, and the men returned to peaceful pursuits.

CAPTAIN ENYART'S COMPANY.

     Washington County contributed a company of mounted volunteers, which was mustered into the United States service at Fort Smith, Arkansas, June 15, 1847, for the term of ‘‘during the war with Mexico.’’  The COMMISSIONED OFFICERS of the company were:
Stephen B. Enyart, captain;
James P. Neel, first lieutenant;
Elijah O’Brien and Joseph F. Rieff, second lieutenants.
     NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS:
Albert L. Berry, James Skelton, George M. Cline, George S. Tramell, sergeants;
Arthur L. Sanders, Andrew J. Hudson, Solomon F. Kimbrell, Joseph P. McPherson, Wilson D. Hart, corporals;
William Ledford and John Thomas, buglers;
Henry Snider, farrier.
PRIVATES:

     Immediately after being mustered in, the company started for Mexico, where it served with various commands until June 23, 1848, when it was mustered out at Camargo and returned to Arkansas.

CAPTAIN MEARS' COMPANY

     The members of Colonel Yell's regiment were mustered into the United States service for the term of twelve months.  In the latter part of May, 1847, a number of the men were discharged to reenlist "for the war' in a company commanded by Capt. Gaston Mears, adjutant of the regiment.  The company was mustered into the service of the United States at Buena Vista, Mexico, June

Pg. 646 -
30, 1847, with Gaston Mears, captain; Benjamin F. Ross, first lieutenant; Allen L. McAfee and Daniel T. W. Morrison, second lieutenants.
     The NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS were: 
Thomas Campbell, Louis A. Turowski, James Murray, Howard Vandergriff and J. B. Matheny, sergeants;
Elias Bender, William Duty, William E. Parker and John H. Odom, corporals;
Edward Hines, William Dean and Victor Gilbreath, buglers;
Isham Hodges and John Hogue, farriers.

PRIVATES:

     The company remained in service in Mexico until the close of the war, but was not engaged in any actual battles.  It was mustered out at Camargo, Mexico, June 24, 184.

CAPTAIN WOODS' COMPANY.

     This company was originally organized in 1846, with J. H. H. Felch, captain;  Charles Russell first lieutenant; Thomas Conway, second lieutenant.  Its only service under this organization was through a detail of twenty men ordered by Gen. Mathew Arbuckle to the Indian Territory to protect some Cherokee families during the Ross-Ridge troubles.  It was then reorganized, mustered into the United States service as Company C, Twelfth United States Infantry, commanded by Col. M. L. Bonham.  The COMMISSIONED OFFICERS of the reorganized company were:
Allen Woods, captain;
J. H. H. Felch and John Simkins, first lieutenants;
Thomas J. Conway and Lloyd McGruder, second lieutenants.
     NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS - T. D. Crouch, George W. Young, William Rafeld and Quinton Hedspeth, sergeants;
E. H. Birchfield, John L. Tubbs, William L. Todd, and Thomas Oats, corporals;
S. Church, M. D. Johnson and James M. Hedspeth, musician. 

Pg. 647 -

PRIVATES:

     A few days after being mustered in, the company was ordered to join its regiment, which formed part of the division commanded by Gen. Franklin Pierce.  From Fort Smith it went by boat to New Orleans, then by ship to Vera Cruz.  It took an active part in the campaign from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico.  Pierce's division leading the fighting at Contreras and Cherubusco.  On Dec. 18, 1850, the Arkansas Legislature tendered a vote of thanks to Captain Woods and the members of his company "for their distinguished services in the war with Mexico."

TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO.

     When James K. Polk was inaugurated President on Mar. 4, 1845, it soon became the dream of his administration to acquire California, though the means by which this dream was to be realized were uncertain.  The territory might be acquired by conquest; it might be obtained by filling it with emigrants from the United States, who would bring it into the Union as Texas had been annexed: or it might be possible to win the good will and allegiance of the inhabitants, who were already chafing under Mexican rule.  Early in 1846 John C. Fremont led an expedition into the Sacramento Valley and introduced a fourth plan for the acquisition of the country.  He established an independent government, known as the "Bear Flag Republic," under the control of the American settlers on the valley.  When Congress declared war against Mexico on May 13, 1846, the "Bear Flag" was replaced by the Stars and Strips.
     In the summer of 1846 Col. Stephen W. Kearny captured the Town of Santa Fe.  New Mexico was thus acquired almost without loss of life.  By the close of the year practically all of the territory desired by the administration was occupied by the United States military forces, though Mexico still remained unconquered.  In the spring of 1847 the President sent Nicholas P. Trist to Gen. Winfield Scott's headquarters for the purpose of entering into negotiations with the Mexican Government for the restoration of peace.  Trist was a Virginian, spoke Spanish fluently, had served as private secretary to President Jackson and as consul at Havana.  At the time of his appointment as peace commissioner he was chief clerk in the department of state.  He carried with him a treaty which had been prepared by the cabinet, though his secret instructions authorized him to make certain changes if it became necessary.  One thing, however, he was to insist on, and that was the cession of New Mexico and California, for which he was authorized to pay Mexico $25,000,000, unless he could obtain the cession on better terms.

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     On Aug. 24, 1847, an armistice was agreed and the Mexican Government appointed four commissioners to meet Mr. Twist.  The Mexican commissioners refused to entertain Trist's proposition and asked time to formulate other terms.  McMaster says: "While these things were happening in Mexico, Polk, disgusted at the failure of Scott's victories to 'conquer a peace' decided to exact yet harsher terms from the Mexico as the price of a treaty."
     Polk wrote a letter to Trist recalling him.  In this letter he said: "Mexico must now sue for peace, and when she does we will hear her propositions."  But Trist refused to be recalled.  He wrote to the President, reminding him that General Scott had taken the City of Mexico, and that 'the opportunity presented must be seized at once, or all hope of a treaty will be gone."  General Butler was appointed to supersede Scott and instructed to notify the Mexican authorities that Trist was no longer recognized by the President as commissioner.  Nevertheless, Trist continued his negoiations negotiations and on Feb. 2, 1848, succeeded in concluding the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (a small place on the outskirts of the City of Mexico), which embodied all the features desired by the President.  The territory now comprising the states of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah, the western part of Colorado and the southwestern part of Wyoming, was ceded to the United States for $15,000,000.  The United States also agreed to assume the payment of claims  held by her citizens against Mexico, provided the total amount of such claims did not exceed $3,250,000.
     The treaty was forwarded to Washington, where the sentiment was divided as to its acceptance.  Polk wanted to reject it, not because the terms were unsatisfactory, but because Trist had refused to accept his recall.  The President was supported by James Buchanan, secretary of State, and Robert J. Walker, secretary of the treasury.  Nathan Clifford, attorney general; William L. Marcy, secretary of war; John Y. Mason, secretary of the navy, and Cave Johnson, postmaster-general, all argued that if the treaty was rejected it might be impossible to secure another as favorable to the United States.  This majority fully ruled.  The treaty was sent to the Senate, where it was promptly ratified.
     The Mexican Government, knowing of the dissensions at Washington, delayed the ratification of the treaty.  Polk appointed Nathan Clifford and Senator Ambrose H. Sevier, of Arkansas, commissioners to consult the Mexican commissioners and secure the ratifications of the treaty.  Clifford and Sevier met the Mexican commissioners at Queretaro and succeeded in accomplishing their mission.  By this treaty more than half a million square miles were added to the territory of the United States.  In the acquisition of this territory, Arkansas played a conspicuous part, as shown by the muster rolls of military organizations furnished by the state.  Each call for volunteers was answered by more than the quota assigned.  The men who went from Arkansas bore the hardships of difficult campaigns with the fortitude of veterans, in a manner to win honorable mention from their commanding officers and the admiration of their friends at home.

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- END OF CHAPTER XXXVI -      NEXT CHAPTER:  XXXVII. - CIVIL WAR 1861 - 1865